Good Afternoon! I've been flipping through my next three books, and I am realizing that the books I've chosen are really just that - "flipping" books. You know, the kind that you really want in your personal library, because you only need to read a page or two at a time.... I'll introduce you, so that you understand my meaning.
Book 4:
Title: 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
Author: Preface, Peter Akroyd; Written by over 100 International Critics
Dewey no.: 011.73 ONE
Publication Date: 3rd Ed., August 2006
This one, I hope to get a copy of someday - if a book is good enough to be in the "top" 1001, I think I will read it. As I flip through, I'm going to make a list of the books I HAVE read, and see how many of the top books are on it....
Books 5 and 6 are similar, and later (when my kids have gone to bed) I'll blog about those ones too!
In an effort to get some comments going, would anyone tell me what your FAVORITE book is, and why?
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Winter's Here!
As the temperature has dipped - significantly.... - I'm hoping to get back on the reading wagon. However, I think I may have to adjust my rules slightly. I don't know if I should keep going shelf by shelf, or create some sort of other system, since I'm really getting bored with "conspiracy theory" type books. I've already read my way through two, and I'm just not enjoying this section much anymore. My third book (which I haven't blogged about yet) has been pretty much a dud as far as capturing my interest, and the 4th (which I tried out this morning) may be better, I'm not far enough into it yet.
So - my conclusions are that: 1. There are definitely interesting books in the non fiction section! The first two books were good enough to convince me of that; and 2. There are certainly books, or perhaps types of books, that truly don't capture my interest. Therefore, I am instituting a new rule. I can STOP reading if I choose... even if I've already blogged about a particular book. If I can't stop reading something that I'm getting bored with, I will end up putting the whole project aside, and I think that it's worth more than that! So. Now that I've cleared that up, I think I might have to head to the library at some point today!
Enjoy the cold with a good book and a cup of coffee! (PS - for those of you who drink coffee, my friend just showed me something great - put a little bit (about 1/2 teaspoon) of cinnamon in the bottom of your coffee filter before adding the grounds for a REALLY tasty treat!)
So - my conclusions are that: 1. There are definitely interesting books in the non fiction section! The first two books were good enough to convince me of that; and 2. There are certainly books, or perhaps types of books, that truly don't capture my interest. Therefore, I am instituting a new rule. I can STOP reading if I choose... even if I've already blogged about a particular book. If I can't stop reading something that I'm getting bored with, I will end up putting the whole project aside, and I think that it's worth more than that! So. Now that I've cleared that up, I think I might have to head to the library at some point today!
Enjoy the cold with a good book and a cup of coffee! (PS - for those of you who drink coffee, my friend just showed me something great - put a little bit (about 1/2 teaspoon) of cinnamon in the bottom of your coffee filter before adding the grounds for a REALLY tasty treat!)
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Book 2!
So I think I'm finished with conspiracy theories - I might read a little more for my own interest, but outside of what I've already said, there's not much more I can think of to say! All in all, it's an interesting, informative book - I am just starting to dream conspiracies, and I think for my sanity, I'm going to stop now. However, my second book isn't that much better, as far as weird dreams go.
So, here's the info on book no. 2 of The Winter Reading Project!
Title: Loch Ness Monsters and Raining Frogs; The World's Most Puzzling Mysteries SOLVED
Author: Albert Jack (random note of absolutely no importance to the actual project, but may be kind of interesting - my hubby is Jacky Steven Albert....)
Call No.: 001.94 JAC
Published: 2009 Random House Paperback edition
Well. I'm just starting out with this one, so I don't really have much to say about it yet, other than it looks like I might not read a whole lot of this book. (It depends when I can get to the library next) Again, it's interesting, but not quite what I was hoping for. The author claims on the front cover to "solve" the worlds greatest mysteries, then goes back on that promise in the introduction; "Given that I {Mr. Jack} am a fan of the unknown and the unexplained, I have not set out to be a mystery buster in this volume. Instead I just wanted to tell the story, provide some little-known detail, and offer a rational explanation wherever I could." (Introduction, p. xii)
So although I was a little disappointed at first, I'm going to continue reading, as he DOES supply a reasonable hypothesis for the first few stories! I'm going to go read now; you should too! Happy reading!
So, here's the info on book no. 2 of The Winter Reading Project!
Title: Loch Ness Monsters and Raining Frogs; The World's Most Puzzling Mysteries SOLVED
Author: Albert Jack (random note of absolutely no importance to the actual project, but may be kind of interesting - my hubby is Jacky Steven Albert....)
Call No.: 001.94 JAC
Published: 2009 Random House Paperback edition
Well. I'm just starting out with this one, so I don't really have much to say about it yet, other than it looks like I might not read a whole lot of this book. (It depends when I can get to the library next) Again, it's interesting, but not quite what I was hoping for. The author claims on the front cover to "solve" the worlds greatest mysteries, then goes back on that promise in the introduction; "Given that I {Mr. Jack} am a fan of the unknown and the unexplained, I have not set out to be a mystery buster in this volume. Instead I just wanted to tell the story, provide some little-known detail, and offer a rational explanation wherever I could." (Introduction, p. xii)
So although I was a little disappointed at first, I'm going to continue reading, as he DOES supply a reasonable hypothesis for the first few stories! I'm going to go read now; you should too! Happy reading!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Book 1: The Rough Guide to Conspiracy Theories
So, this is the first book to read this "winter".
THE BOOK:
Title: The Rough Guide to Conspiracy Theories
Author: James McConnachie and Robin Tudge
Dewey Decimal Number: (might only apply the the PGPL, I'm not sure) is 001.9MCC
Publication Date: September, 2008
So far, I've only read the first section, and started the second. It's interesting, and I can't read very much at a time, simply because some of these conspiracy theories are frighteningly intriguing. I can see how some people can believe them - even intelligent people! However, I'm also finding that a lot of the time - and this is probably me and my non-political brain here - that I just don't care that much. Seriously, why must there be a conspiracy about Tutankhamun? (p. 4 in the book) I mean, the historical information is interesting, but does it really matter why he died, or whether he was assassinated or died from an illness? History doesn't exactly change however he died - he's still dead, right?
Anyway, like I said, it's an interesting book, and is certainly informational about the different theories. I appreciate the note the authors put in in the introduction:
"Though we have tried to be open-minded and judicious while seeking out the best-substantiated accounts of events, that still doesn't mean you should treat any of the other theories (or any of the "facts" related by us in our discussion of them) with anything other than complete disbelief." (page x of the Introduction, The Rough Guide to Conspiracy Theories).
This book is meant to be a primer on the different theories, not a proponent of any individual theory or group of theories, and I would love to thank the authors for writing it, as I would never have thought that there could be so many of them!
I'll post more as I continue to read!
THE BOOK:
Title: The Rough Guide to Conspiracy Theories
Author: James McConnachie and Robin Tudge
Dewey Decimal Number: (might only apply the the PGPL, I'm not sure) is 001.9MCC
Publication Date: September, 2008
So far, I've only read the first section, and started the second. It's interesting, and I can't read very much at a time, simply because some of these conspiracy theories are frighteningly intriguing. I can see how some people can believe them - even intelligent people! However, I'm also finding that a lot of the time - and this is probably me and my non-political brain here - that I just don't care that much. Seriously, why must there be a conspiracy about Tutankhamun? (p. 4 in the book) I mean, the historical information is interesting, but does it really matter why he died, or whether he was assassinated or died from an illness? History doesn't exactly change however he died - he's still dead, right?
Anyway, like I said, it's an interesting book, and is certainly informational about the different theories. I appreciate the note the authors put in in the introduction:
"Though we have tried to be open-minded and judicious while seeking out the best-substantiated accounts of events, that still doesn't mean you should treat any of the other theories (or any of the "facts" related by us in our discussion of them) with anything other than complete disbelief." (page x of the Introduction, The Rough Guide to Conspiracy Theories).
This book is meant to be a primer on the different theories, not a proponent of any individual theory or group of theories, and I would love to thank the authors for writing it, as I would never have thought that there could be so many of them!
I'll post more as I continue to read!
The Beginning
After working as a page (briefly) at the public library, I realized that there are TONS of neat sounding books in the non-fiction section of the library. Also, I realized that I have become a little stagnant in what I have chosen to read! I have been reading "escape fiction" almost exclusively, with the periodic journey into the knitting pattern section. So I gave myself a task - to read AT LEAST one book from every shelf in the non fiction section of the library. So, starting at 000, I chose two books to start me off. I will continue this until I have read through the entire non fiction section.
My rules:
1. I will chose no more than two books at a time, to facilitate actually reading them, instead of returning them to the library unread.
2. I will at least attempt to read the entire book - although I also reserve the right to stop reading something that I find entirely boring, or that is otherwise bothersome. (i.e. disgusting, going to give me nightmares....)
3. I reserve the right to read MORE than one book if I find a section that is very interesting to me, applicable to my life (i.e. child rearing, knitting, TaeKwonDo)
4. I will post here about my opinions. I AM NOT a professional book reviewer or scholar. This blog is a way for me to express my opinions about the books I am reading, and to track my progress on this self appointed task, it is not intended to be an actual "book review", nor am I desiring to do anything other than promote reading things that one may not generally choose to read.
For those who may read my opinions - feel free to comment (respectfully please) if you disagree, or if you agree! I would ask that posts stay respectful, and that if you have chosen to comment without reading the book itself, that you are careful in your posts - ignorance is never pretty!
I welcome any comments and would love to find others who would join me in my quest to expand my mind and my interests!
Happy reading!
My rules:
1. I will chose no more than two books at a time, to facilitate actually reading them, instead of returning them to the library unread.
2. I will at least attempt to read the entire book - although I also reserve the right to stop reading something that I find entirely boring, or that is otherwise bothersome. (i.e. disgusting, going to give me nightmares....)
3. I reserve the right to read MORE than one book if I find a section that is very interesting to me, applicable to my life (i.e. child rearing, knitting, TaeKwonDo)
4. I will post here about my opinions. I AM NOT a professional book reviewer or scholar. This blog is a way for me to express my opinions about the books I am reading, and to track my progress on this self appointed task, it is not intended to be an actual "book review", nor am I desiring to do anything other than promote reading things that one may not generally choose to read.
For those who may read my opinions - feel free to comment (respectfully please) if you disagree, or if you agree! I would ask that posts stay respectful, and that if you have chosen to comment without reading the book itself, that you are careful in your posts - ignorance is never pretty!
I welcome any comments and would love to find others who would join me in my quest to expand my mind and my interests!
Happy reading!
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